DeKALB | Talk about a who’s who of college universities.

As Sunday Night Football kicked off two nights ago, faces of the Indianapolis Colts offensive starters appeared like a slide show.

They would look at the camera, say their name, and then proclaim their nationally known alma matre.

Peyton Manning; University of Tennessee. Reggie Wayne; The ‘U’. Dallas Clark; Iowa. Ryan Lilja; ‘K’ State. Ryan Diem; Northern Illinois.

Northern Illinois?

Yes, among the big name players from the big name universities, NIU snuck in not only a player that made the NFL, but a starter.

But Diem isn’t the only one. NIU alum sightings on NFL sidelines are becoming more common. Along with those on current rosters, two others — Garrett Wolfe and Doug Free —should be joining them soon.

And as the NFL season kicked off this past weekend, NFL alums were continuing their quest to bring notoriety to their alma matre.

Maybe the highest profile of all the alumni, Diem played on prime time television as his Colts beat the New York Giants 26-21.

Diem was part of an Indianapolis offensive line that limited the Giants, a team that tied for ninth in the NFL last season with 41 sacks, to one sack.

Sticking with older alumni, New York Jet Justin McCareins caught two passes for 34 yards in the Jets 23-16 win over Tennessee. The 2001 graduate has average over 33 catches a season for the Jets and the Titans.

Despite sitting behind one of the best running backs in the league, Michael Turner of the San Diego Chargers saw significant action Monday night against the Oakland Raiders.

Turner scored his first touchdown of the season late in the fourth quarter. The running back ran for 41 yards on 11 carries. The Chargers totaled 204 yards on the ground.

The most recent Huskie in the NFL, Sam Hurd, has yet to make an impact on the field but has reportedly befriended Dallas Cowboys All-Pro receiver Terrell Owens. Hurd has been seen playing catch with Owens in warm-ups.